The Morning Benders opt for name change

Actually a rebrand rather than a reunion, US indie pop outfit The Morning Benders have opted to drop their moniker of seven years, deciding instead that they’d prefer to be referred to as POP ETC. Whilst touring the UK, the band realised that their original name had different connotations overseas than in America (“We were told it was the equivalent of ‘The Morning Fags'”, they say), and changed it to avoid causing public offence.

Writing on behalf of the band in this statement, frontman Christopher Chu explains: “We simply cannot go on using a name that is demeaning to the gay community. The reason we are making music is to reach and unite as many different kinds of people as possible, and the idea that our name may be hateful towards anyone makes us sick”.

He continues: “In the UK and many parts of Europe the name has simply become too distracting. The MUSIC has always been our number one focus, and we want to present that to people in as pure a way as possible”.

Now free from all such distractions, Chu and POP ETC have released a free mixtape, their first new output since 2010 album ‘Big Echo’. It’s available at popetcetera.com.

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